George M. Kirkpatrick

George M. Kirkpatrick, age 105, passed away November 12, 2024.

George was born in 1919 in Roseville, IL, and grew up on a farm, the eldest of 4 children of Hugh J. and Cora G. (Meacham) Kirkpatrick. He received a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1941, and was hired by General Electric (GE) in the spring of his senior year. He began his 25-year career at GE in Bridgeport, CT, and learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Program before moving to Schenectady, NY, in 1942, where he worked on early radar systems during WW2. In 1944-45 he was chosen to travel to the Oak Ridge Atomic Lab where he contributed to isotope separation for the Manhattan Project. During his time in Schenectady, he took up skiing, and met the love of his life, Muriel, to whom he was married 68 years.

During the 1950’s he taught and supervised the 3-year GE Advanced Engineering Program, teaching some of the brightest engineers in the country.

He joined the GE Electronics Lab (E-Lab) in 1947, 1st as the Project Engineer for the Hermes rocket guidance system, then as a Section Manager, and in 1956 he was appointed to manage a division of the E-Lab with 60 scientists and engineers, and 20 support personnel. During this time, he moved with Murial to Syracuse. He also completed his MS in Electrical Engineering, and continued to advance radar and guidance systems. In 1965, he transferred to the Syracuse University Research Corp., consulting for the Air Force Systems Command.

He continued to develop radar, guidance, and landing systems into his 90’s. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace & Electronics Systems Society Pioneer Award in Edinburgh, Scotland at the 2007 IEEE International Conference on Radar Systems. He has authored (or coauthored) 30 technical papers and reports and holds 10 patents.

George loved to fly, had MEL, SES, and IFR ratings, and flew over 4000 hours until his 90th birthday. Many family vacations were taken in small airplanes. In 2004 he was awarded the prestigious FAA “Master Pilot” award for 50 years of exemplary flying. While at GE George was able to combine his love of flying with work, flying himself on business trips and equipment test flights in small airplanes. Another early passion was Ham radio using Morse Code, often on Saturday mornings in his pajamas.

George was very involved in genealogy later in life, publishing a Kirkpatrick newsletter for many years, and amassing a large library of records and documents. Despite his age, George kept up with the changing world and technology. At age 100 he bought an electric car, and taught himself to facetime and zoom with family and friends. Into his 100’s George had weekly chats, first by Ham Radio, and then video, with two of his centenarian cousins.

George was active in the Adirondack Hiking Club, the Syracuse International Folk Dancers, The United Flying Octogenarians, IEEE, the Tech Club of Syracuse (2008 Lifetime Achievement Award), Sigma Xi, The Institute of Navigation, and Eta Kappa Nu, the YMCA, and was a member of the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, where he was a member of the society for 73 years.

George was a devoted and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He was known for his wit, warmth, modesty, and his outstanding memory which remained with him until the end of his life. During his life he fostered many close relationships, especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even in his last years.

George is survived by 2 sons, Alan and James, 3 grandchildren, Kelly, Hugh, and Kathryn, and 3 great-grandchildren, George, Elizabeth, and Henry. He was predeceased by one son, Donald, and his wife, Muriel.

A service will be held at May Memorial church in Syracuse on January 19th, 2025, at 2pm.

Donations may be made to the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse.

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